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Department of State (U.S.)

image by Rick Wyatt, 28 August 2013

Overview
Secretary of State
Deputy Secretary of State
Under Secretaries of State
Assistant Secretaries of State
Flag Usage

See also:

Overview

The Department of State does not have an official flag. The Secretary of State's flag is often used as if it were the flag of the department.
Joe McMillan, 21 October 2005

Secretary of State

image by Randy Young, 28 July 2022

The Secretary of State was first authorized a flag by President Wilson's Executive Order 3360 of November 28, 1920. The occasion was the impending departure of the Secretary on a visit to South America as the President's special representative, during which the Secretary would be traveling by U.S. Navy ship. It was thought that a personal flag was required for his use as the President's stand-in. According to a booklet in the State Department library, this flag was blue with a rendition of the U.S. coat of arms in gold, flanked by two gold stars. This flag was canceled by Executive Order 6005A of January 21, 1933 (President F. D. Roosevelt's second day in office) and replaced by the present flag, which was authorized by State Department Order 545 the same day.

Secretary of State: "On a blue rectangular field a white disk bearing the official coat of arms of the United States adopted by the act of June 20, 1782, in proper colors. In each of the four corners a white five-pointed star with one point upward. The colors and automobile flag to be the same design, adding a white fringe. For the colors a cord and tassel of blue and white to be added. The sizes to be in accordance with military and naval customs." The indoor version (colors) is therefore 52x66 inches with a 2 1/2 inch fringe.

Source for Description of Flags: Title 22, Code of Federal Regulations, Part 1, describes this flag and the other "official flags indicative of the office" of the top leadership of the Department of State.

Joe McMillan, 4 September 1999

Construction sheet: Secretary of State
Created 9 July 1970, revised 3 August 1981. Superseded the original drawing from 20 March 1963.
Colors:
    Base: Old Glory Blue (Cable 70075)
    Stars and Disc: White (Cable 65005)
    Fringe: White (Cable 65005)

Dave Fowler, 8 July 2022

Deputy Secretary of State

image by Randy Young, 28 July 2022

Deputy Secretary of State: The same design with a white field, blue disk and stars, blue fringe, and blue and white cord and tassels.
Joe McMillan, 4 September 1999

Construction sheet: Deputy Secretary of State
Created 9 July 1970, revised 3 August 1981. Superseded the original drawing from 20 March 1963.
Colors:
    Base: White (Cable 65005)
    Stars and Disc: Old Glory Blue (Cable 70075)
    Fringe: Old Glory Blue (Cable 70075)

Dave Fowler, 8 July 2022

Under Secretaries of State

image by Randy Young, 28 July 2022

Under Secretaries of State: The same design with a red field, white disk and stars, white fringe, and red and white cord and tassels.
Joe McMillan, 4 September 1999

Construction sheet: Under Secretaries of State
Created 9 July 1970, revised 3 August 1981. Superseded the original drawing from 20 March 1963.
Colors:
    Base: Old Glory Red (Cable 70180)
    Stars and Disc: White (Cable 65005)
    Fringe: White (Cable 65005)

Dave Fowler, 8 July 2022

Assistant Secretaries of State

There is no distinctive flag for Assistant Secretaries of State. The CFR provides only for these three, and assistant secretaries display only the U.S. flag in their offices. I believe, but am not sure, that one of these three designs may have been used by assistant secretaries before the deputy secretary position was created.
Joe McMillan, 4 September 1999

Flag Usage

The finial for all flags is a gold-colored spearhead.

In addition to indoor and automobile display, the Secretary's flag flies outside the Department of State's C Street entrance to the left of the Stars and Stripes. When the Secretary flies as the senior official on a special air missions aircraft of the 89th Airlift Wing, a replica of the flag is mounted on the inside of the aircraft door to be visible when the secretary arrives and departs.

Joe McMillan, 4 September 1999